Aam Aadmi Party cashes in on Prakash Jha's Satyagraha

Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement in 2011 may have inspired filmmaker Prakash Jha to make Satyagraha, but the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is now using the movie to attract people to its fold.

After drawing parallels between his party's agendas and the movie, AAP founder Arvind Kejriwal has asked his party workers to tap the youth vote bank. A number of volunteers were seen at movie theatres of Connaught Place as well as near popular shops and restaurants of the area, spreading AAP's message.

Kejriwal, who had recently addressed students in Delhi University, has been urging the city youth to actively participate in the coming polls.

"We have been told to spread out in CP, especially near movie halls and shops the youth frequent to try and urge youngsters to come out and participate actively in politics. The youth's participation in politics is necessary because they are the ones who can come up with fresh, revolutionary ideas to bring about a change in the system," said Deep Inder Singh, a volunteer from Punjab. Singh, who runs a business in Punjab, was in the Capital for the weekend to chip in as a volunteer.

"To see parties adopt different approaches to propagate their message is interesting. I had come to watch the movie with my friend and spotted AAP volunteers. Their ideas are interesting but I'm yet to decide on joining the party," said Ankur Singh, a 23-year-old business analyst.

Kejriwal has written an open letter to all Delhiites, urging them to convince at least five people each day, until the polls, to vote for AAP. In his letter, Kejriwal said that even though the movement had turned into a revolution, little had been done to set the Janlokpal Bill in motion.

"It's been two years since Annaji launched the movement at Ramlila Ground, but it has had no effect. This time, in the assembly polls we will contest all 70 seats and within 15 days of forming the government, we will clear the Janlokpal Bill in Delhi," the letter read.